Funnel and stand for bag

ABSTRACT

A bag stand includes a funnel having an inner surface, an outer surface, a top end, a bottom end, and at least one attachment portion; and at least one leg support connectable to the funnel.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application 61/508,934 filed on Jul. 18, 2011, which is hereby incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.

FIELD

The disclosure relates to refuse. More particularly, the disclosure relates to bagging refuse and filling refuse bags.

BACKGROUND

When bagging refuse, multiple problems can arise. Among them, refuse bags are typically collapsible. While collapsibility may provide advantages for storage and materials cost, a collapsible refuse bag can be difficult to use, as a user must hold a refuse bag with one hand while inserting refuse into the bag with another. In another example, it is common to use refuse bags to discard refuse that is larger than the width or diameter of the refuse bag. Such refuse can become stuck in the bag or may simply be difficult to insert.

SUMMARY

Disclosed is a funnel and bag stand. The bag stand includes a funnel having an inner surface, an outer surface, a top end, a bottom end, and at least one attachment portion and at least one leg support connectable to the funnel

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The features and components of the following figures are illustrated to emphasize the general principles of the present disclosure and are not necessarily drawn to scale. Corresponding features and components throughout the figures may be designated by matching reference characters for the sake of consistency and clarity.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of an assembled bag stand according to the current disclosure.

FIG. 2 is top view of the bag stand of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a funnel of the bag stand of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a leg support of the bag stand of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the leg support of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a cutaway of the bag stand taken in the plane indicated by line 6 in FIG. 2.

FIG. 7 is a detail view as indicated by detail 7 in FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Disclosed is a bag stand used primarily for holding and filling refuse bags. The bag stand includes a hollow stand and a funnel.

FIG. 1 shows one embodiment of the disclosed bag stand 100. A bag stand 100 includes four leg supports 110 a,b,c,d and a funnel 120. The leg supports 110 a,b,c,d are connected to the funnel 120 to form a generally rectangular bag stand 100 in the current embodiment, although other shape profiles are included in this disclosure.

All references to “left” and “right” in this disclosure refer to the left and right directions when viewed from the outside with the top end up and the bottom end down. All connections to which this disclosure refers may be any connection sufficient to hold together the elements to be connected, including an integrated construction, glue, a notched end, or other types of connecting means.

Each leg support 110 a,b,c,d in the current embodiment has a left portion 112 a,b,c,d, a right portion 114 a,b,c,d, and a connecting portion 115 a,b,c,d, respectively. Each left portion 112 a,b,c,d is formed in approximately a 90-degree bend with respect to the right portion 114 a,b,c,d, and the left portion 112 a,b,c,d and the right portion 114 a,b,c,d are connected by the connecting portion 115 a,b,c,d, which is a round or fillet in the current embodiment but may be various shapes in various embodiments. Each left portion 112 a,b,c,d includes a filleted foot 113 a,b,c,d, which is a filleted edge between a bottom end of each left portion 112 a,b,c,d and a side end of each left portion 112 a,b,c,d. Each right portion 114 a,b,c,d includes a filleted foot 111 a,b,c,d, which is a filleted edge between a bottom end of each right portion 114 a,b,c,d and a side end of each right portion 114 a,b,c,d. Although this shape of leg support 110 a,b,c,d is shown in the current embodiment, the leg supports 110 a,b,c,d can be various shapes in various embodiments.

Although each leg support 110 a,b,c,d is fairly thin in profile in the current embodiment, each leg support is at least partially hollow. Each leg support 110 a,b,c,d may be completely hollow or may be hollow only for a portion. In the current embodiment, the connection between each leg support 110 a,b,c,d and the funnel 120 is by a portion of the funnel 120 being inserted into the hollow portion of each leg support 110 a,b,c,d, as will be discussed later with reference to FIGS. 4-7. In other embodiments, other shapes, sizes, and thicknesses may be used in place of leg supports 110 a,b,c,d.

In the current embodiment, the funnel 120 and each leg support 110 a,b,c,d is made of blow-molded plastic. However, other generally rigid materials may be used as well, including metal, plastic formed through other forming processes, wood, cardboard or paper, resin, Styrofoam, linerboard, polymer, alloy, mesh, laminate, reinforced woven or nonwoven fabric, cellulose, composite, and combinations or mixtures of the foregoing, among others

The funnel 120 includes four funnel panels 170,180,190,200. Each funnel panel 170,180,190,200 has a top end 172,182,192,202, a bottom end 174,184,194,204, a left end 176,186 (not shown), 196,206, and a right end 178 (not shown), 188,198,208, respectively. Each funnel panel 170,180,190,200 is connected to a fillet 175,185 (not shown), 195,205 (not shown) which connects to another funnel panel 180,190,200,170. For example, funnel panel 170 is connected by left end 176 to fillet 175 which is connected to right end 188. Each funnel panel 170,180,190,200 has an inner surface and an outer surface: funnel panel 170 has inner surface 177 and outer surface 179 (not shown), funnel panel 180 has inner surface 187 and outer surface 189 (not shown), funnel panel 190 has inner surface 197 (not shown) and outer surface 199, and funnel panel 200 has inner surface 207 (not shown) and outer surface 209.

Connected to the top ends 172,182,192,202 and to the fillets 175,185,195,205 is a curving rim 210, which includes four funnel panel portions 212,214,216,218 and four fillet portions 211,213,215,217. An end rim 220 is connected to the curving rim 210 and includes four funnel panel portions 222,224,226,228 and four fillet portions 221,223,225,227.

Connected to the bottom ends 174,184,194,204 and to the fillets 175,185,195,205 is a neck 160 which includes four panel portions 162,164,166,168 and four fillet portions 161,163,165,167. Connected to the other end of the neck 160 is a bottom 150 of the funnel 120. It should be noted that the width of the neck 160 is smaller than the width of the bottom 150 of the funnel 120 in the current embodiment.

A top view of the bag stand 100 is seen in FIG. 2. As can be seen in the top view, all sections of the funnel 120 are integrally formed in the current embodiment, although separate pieces may be used in other embodiments. For example, the funnel 120 may be composed of two separate parts connected together or may be made of two parts permanently joined via plastic welding.

As seen in FIG. 3, the bottom 150 of the funnel 120 includes a number of portions. Four leg attachment portions 310 a,b,c,d are shown. Each leg attachment portion 310 a,b,c,d has a left tab 312 a,b,c,d and a right tab 314 a,b,c,d disposed approximately at 90-degree angles to each other. A connecting portion 315 a,b,c,d connects each left tab 312 a,b,c,d with the respective right tab 314 a,b,c,d. Each left tab 312 a,b,c,d includes a filleted bottom end 311 a,b,c,d. Each right tab 314 a,b,c,d includes a filleted bottom end 313 a,b,c,d. The bottom 150 also includes side portions 322,324,326,328 which are flat on each side in the current embodiment. Although filleted bottom ends 311,313 are shown in the current embodiment, the left tabs 312 and right tabs 314 may be void of these features in various embodiments or may include different shapes or features in various embodiments.

A spring tab 330 a,b,c,d is located on each connecting portion 315 a,b,c,d in the current embodiment. Although a spring tab 330 a,b,c,d is used in the current embodiment, in other embodiments, no spring tab 330 a,b,c,d is needed, as the funnel 120 and the leg supports 110 a,b,c,d may be connected by any suitable mechanism, such as friction. In other embodiments, the spring tab 330 a,b,c,d may be located on other portions of the funnel 120. In other embodiments, another mechanism may take the place of the spring tab 330 a,b,c,d.

As seen in FIGS. 4 and 5, each leg support 110 includes a connection slot 410 located in its top. As can be seen, the connection slot 410 is defined by the leg support 110 such that there are inner portions and outer portions of the leg support 110. Right portion 114 includes outer portion 414 and inner portion 514. Left portion 112 includes outer portion 412 and inner portion 512. Connection portion includes outer connection portion 415 and inner connection portion 515.

A spring tab seat 450 is formed in the outer connection portion 415, and a spring tab seat 550 is formed in the inner connection portion 515. In various embodiments, the spring tab seats 450,550 are various shapes, sizes, and configurations or may be separate parts included with or connected to each leg support 110. In the current embodiment, the spring tab seats 450,550 are formed nodules in the outer connection portion 415 and the inner connection portion 515, respectively. Although the outer connection portion 415 and inner connection portion 515 are not holes in the current embodiment, they may be formed as such in various embodiments.

Although each leg support 110 is the same in the current embodiment, different sizes, shapes, materials, structures, connections, and supports may be used in various embodiments for various legs. No one embodiment of leg support 110 should be considered limiting on the disclosure.

As seen in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 6, the bag stand 100 is composed by attaching four leg supports 110 a,b,c,d to the funnel 120. Each leg support 110 is attached to the funnel 120 by inserting one of the leg attachment portions 310 of the funnel 120 into the connection slot 410 of the leg support 110. In the current embodiment, the connection slot 410 continues the entire length of the leg support 110.

When the leg attachment portion 310 of the funnel 120 is inserted into the connection slot 410 of the leg support 110, interference between the outer connection portion 415 and the spring tab 330 causes the attachment portion 310 to bend inwardly with respect to the leg support 110. The attachment portion 310 of the funnel 120 maintains its bent shape until the spring tab 330 has been inserted far enough into the connection slot 410 that it is approximately flush with the spring tab seats 450,550. Although spring tab seat 550 is shown, in the current embodiment it does not mate with any spring tab. Instead, spring tab seat 550 allows for the possibility of another spring tab (such as spring tab 330) in other embodiments and allows for clearance when depressing the spring tab 330 of the current embodiment.

Shown in further detail in FIG. 7, once the spring tab 330 becomes flush with spring tab seat 450, natural bias in the molded plastic of the funnel 120 forces the spring tab 330 to seat into the spring tab seat 450, providing a durable connection. Although the connection is removable, it is not subject to removal without the user's intent. As previously stated, this mechanism is but one example of a potential connection mechanism, and the disclosure should not be considered limited to one mechanical connection means.

To assemble the bag stand 100, each leg support 110 is connected to the funnel 120 as described above with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7. When each leg support 110 is attached, the bag stand 100 may be used with a refuse bag to bag refuse. The bag support 110 is inserted into the refuse bag such that each filleted foot 111,113 rests inside the refuse bag. A user then inserts refuse into the bag stand 100 which passes through the frame of the bag stand 100 and into the refuse bag. When the refuse bag is satisfactorily filled, the user may remove the bag stand 100 from the refuse bag and discard the refuse bag. In other embodiments, the leg supports 110 may be disposed along the outside of the refuse bag.

To disassemble the bag stand 100, each leg support 110 a,b,c,d is removed from the funnel 120 by depressing each spring tab seat 450 while pulling the leg support 110 a,b,c,d away from the funnel 120. In various embodiments, the spring tab 330 may be formed such that no depression of the spring tab seat 450 is necessary. In such embodiments, the bag stand 100 may be disassembled by supplying sufficient force to remove each leg support 110 a,b,c,d from the funnel 120.

It should be emphasized that the embodiments described herein are merely possible examples of implementations, merely set forth for a clear understanding of the principles of the present disclosure. Many variations and modifications may be made to the described embodiment(s) without departing substantially from the spirit and principles of the present disclosure. Further, the scope of the present disclosure is intended to cover any and all combinations and sub-combinations of all elements, features, and aspects discussed above. All such modifications and variations are intended to be included herein within the scope of the present disclosure, and all possible claims to individual aspects or combinations of elements or steps are intended to be supported by the present disclosure.

One should note that conditional language, such as, among others, “can,” “could,” “might,” or “may,” unless specifically stated otherwise, or otherwise understood within the context as used, is generally intended to convey that certain embodiments include, while alternative embodiments do not include, certain features, elements and/or steps. Thus, such conditional language is not generally intended to imply that features, elements and/or steps are in any way required for one or more particular embodiments or that one or more particular embodiments necessarily include logic for deciding, with or without user input or prompting, whether these features, elements and/or steps are included or are to be performed in any particular embodiment.

Various implementations described in the present disclosure may include additional systems, methods, features, and advantages, which may not necessarily be expressly disclosed herein but will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art upon examination of the following detailed description and accompanying drawings. It is intended that all such systems, methods, features, and advantages be included within the present disclosure and protected by the accompanying claims. 

1. A bag stand comprising: a funnel having an inner surface, an outer surface, a top end, a bottom end, and at least one attachment portion; and at least one leg support connectable to the funnel
 2. The bag stand of claim 1, wherein each the funnel includes at least one attachment mechanism.
 3. The bag stand of claim 2, wherein the attachment mechanism is a spring tab.
 4. The bag stand of claim 3, wherein the spring tab is integral with the funnel.
 5. The bag stand of claim 4, wherein at least one leg support includes at least one spring tab seat.
 6. The bag stand of claim 5, wherein at least one spring tab is formed in at least one attachment portion.
 7. The bag stand of claim 6, wherein each leg support includes filleted bottom ends.
 8. The bag stand of claim 1, wherein each at least one leg support is connected to at least one attachment portion of the funnel.
 9. The bag stand of claim 8, wherein at least one leg support includes a connection portion.
 10. The bag stand of claim 9, wherein each connection portion includes a connection slot.
 11. The bag stand of claim 10, wherein at least one attachment portion is inserted into at least one connection slot.
 12. The bag stand of claim 11, wherein the attachment portion includes at least one attachment mechanism.
 13. The bag stand of claim 12, wherein the attachment mechanism is a spring tab.
 14. The bag stand of claim 13, wherein the connection portion includes a spring tab seat and wherein the spring tab is inserted into the spring tab seat.
 15. The bag stand of claim 14, wherein the spring tab is integral with the attachment portion.
 16. The bag stand of claim 15, wherein each leg support includes filleted bottom ends.
 17. A method of using a bag stand, the method comprising: connecting at least one leg support to a lower end of a funnel to form a bag stand; and standing at least one refuse bag with the bag stand.
 18. The method claim 17, wherein the step of connecting at least one leg support to the lower end of the funnel to form the bag stand includes utilizing a connection mechanism to maintain the connection between the at least one leg support and the lower end.
 19. The method claim 18, wherein utilizing the connection mechanism includes depressing at least one spring tab, inserting the lower end of the funnel into a connection slot in each leg support, and seating each spring tab in at least one spring tab seat. 